SOIL CONDITIONS AND BUILDING DAMAGE IN 1967 CARACAS EARTHQUAKE

IN COMMENTING ON THE ORIGINAL PAPER, ENTITLED "SOIL CONDITIONS AND BUILDING DAMAGE IN 1967 CARACUS EARTHQUAKE," THE WRITER GIVES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON THE HOTEL MACUTO-SHERATON ON THE CARABALLEDA COAST. THE HOTEL IS SUPPORTED ON RAYMOND STEP-TAPER PILES FOR WHICH A STEEL SHELL IS DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND, LEFT IN PLACE, AND FILLED WITH CONCRETE. THE RESULTS OF A TYPICAL TEST BORING AND DETAILS OF THE PILES INCLUDING A TYPICAL DRIVING LOG ARE GIVEN. THE PILES WERE DRIVEN TO AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF 25 FT, AND TO DESIGN LOADS OF 30 METRIC TONS AND 40 METRIC TONS. THE STEP-TAPER SHELLS WERE FILLED WITH 3,000 PSI CONCRETE, AND NO INTERNAL REINFORCEMENT WAS USED. PILE GROUPS FOR THE MAIN BUILDING COLUMNS RANGED FROM 40 TO 64 PILES WITH TWO MAIN COLUMNS SUPPORTED ON EACH PILE GROUP. ALL PILE CAPS WERE INTERCONNECTED BY REINFORCED CONCRETE GRADE BEAMS. THE FOUNDATION WAS DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR UBC EARTHQUAKE ZONE 2. IN PREPARATION FOR THE RESTORATION WORK ON THE HOTEL, AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FOUNDATION WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS OF VENEZUELA. FOUNDATION PILES WERE EXPOSED AND EXAMINED, AND NO DAMAGE FOUND. RECONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE HOTEL PROCEEDED WITHOUT INVOLVING ANY REMEDIAL MEASURES OR ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE EXISTING PILE FOUNDATION.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/3519342
• Supplemental Notes:
  • PROC PAPER 9825
• Authors:
  • Seed, H B
  • Whitman, R V
  • Dezfulian, H
  • DOBRY, R
  • Idriss, I M
  • Fuller, F M
• Publication Date: 1973-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 569-71
• Serial:
  • Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Volume: 99
  • Issue Number: sm7
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1090-0241
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/gto

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Boring; Earthquakes; Foundations; Reinforced concrete; Soils; Support piles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil conditions
• Old TRIS Terms: Foundations (Structures)
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00236703
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 5 1974 12:00AM